Future looks bright for town markets

OSWESTRY’S markets are looking forward to a positive 2014 after showing an improvement in the last 12 months.
The council’s market manager, David Clough said both the town council-run indoor and outdoor markets have made “significant improvements” in 2013 and hopes 2014 will bring “more of the same but better.”
He said: “The weather last year certainly helped. We also added a few new businesses to the indoor market.
“We have more specialist traders like a gentleman selling skateboarding equipment. We try to offer things the supermarkets can’t,” he added.
Mr Clough also revealed the market is always looking for more traders, especially for the outdoor markets, adding that he hopes the usually bad weather in January and February won’t have a detrimental effect on trade.
Councillor Cynthia Hawksley, chairman of the Markets and Car Parks Committee, reiterated the benefits of good weather and expanded on a few more reasons why the markets were successful in 2013.
She commented: “Money had been spent on making it more welcoming to the public. The special markets we put on attracted a lot of people and we’re planning on trying to introduce an antiques market.
“We’re trying to attract and encourage coach companies to stop and look at the market and Oswestry itself. We try to do innovations like sausage making workshops and we’ve even taken one or two schools around the market. We would like a few more food stalls outside to make it a bit more interesting, and we’re always looking at ways to improve,” she added.